Revision of the photometric parameters of BS Cassiopeiae

Seven charge-coupled device(CCD)photometric times of light minimum of the overcontact binary BS Cas which were obtained from 2007 August to November and one CCD light curve in the R band which was observed on 2007 September 24 and October 15,are presented.It is found that the light curve of BS Cas has characteristics like a typical EW-type light variation.The light curve obtained by us is symmetric and shows total eclipses,which is very useful for determining photometric parameters with high precision.Photometric solutions were derived by using the 2003 version of the Wilson-Devinney code.It shows that BS Cas is a W-subtype overcontact binary(f = 27.5% ± 0.4%)with a mass ratio of q = 2.7188 ± 0.0040.The temperature difference between the two components is 190 K.Analysis of the O-C curve suggests that the period of AE Phe shows a long-term continuous decrease at a rate of dP/dt=-2.45 × 10-7 dyr-1.The long-time period decrease can be explained by mass transfer from the primary to the secondary.     

The fundamental statistical properties of the Vening-Meinesz and stokes integral transformations

Summary The stochastic properties of the vector function, formed by the components and of the deflection of the vertical and by the height of the geoid , are studied by utilizing the mathematical model in[4]. The properties of the error components of the said vector are also studied and a method is described for comparing the results when the vector function was obtained directly by means of astro-geodetic methods and when the vector function was generated by the Vening-Meinesz and Stokes transformation.     

Density inhomogeneities in the upper mantle of Central Europe and their gravitational effects

Summary Problems of occurrence of density inhomogeneities in the upper mantle are discussed and their gravitational effects in the region of Central Europe are investigated. Attention is namely devoted to the density contrast between the asthenosphere and the lower lithosphere, and its possible dependence on depth.

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New insights into aggregation and conformational behaviour of humic substances: Application of high resolution ultrasonic spectroscopy

The potential of high resolution ultrasonic analysis (HRUS) in humic acid colloidal properties research has been demonstrated. Sodium salts of humic acids from soil and lignite showed similar behaviour, supporting the hypothesis that, at both neutral and alkaline pH, they aggregate from very low concentration. The same conclusion can be reached for solutions at high ionic strength. We tried to apply the same procedure as used for the study of micellization and determination of critical micelle concentration of common surfactants. As expected, our experiments did not show the same break as demonstrated on the HRUS records for sodium dodecyl sulfate, at least in the range of measured concentration (i.e. from 0.001 up to 10 g L⁻¹). The colloidal state of humic acids in aqueous solution is very sensitive to the presence of other, both charged and neutral, molecules. Aggregation of humic acids can be disturbed or promoted, depending on the concentration, by electrostatic or other weak interactions with extraneous molecules. Structures of varying mechanical strength (rigidity) can be formed in solutions of the same components but at different concentration. Such behaviour reflects mechanisms which occur during the sequestration of hydrophobic organic compounds and has several implications for the protection/transportation of labile structures and contaminants which are hypothesized to be encapsulated within hydrophobic pockets of soluble humic aggregates.     

A comparison of the flood precipitation episode in August 2002 with historic extreme precipitation events on the Czech territory

The hydro-meteorological characteristics of the flood from August 2002, which affected a great part of the Czech territory, particularly the Vltava and Labe river basin, were compared with corresponding conditions during similar flood events in the summer seasons of 1997, 1890, 1897 and 1903. The comparison shows analogies in synoptic conditions and causal precipitation heights. The heaviest precipitation fell in the area of a considerable horizontal pressure gradient on the rearward side of the cyclone which advanced very slowly to the north-east across Central Europe and created conditions for the transport of moist air as well as for an organized long-term updraft enhanced in orographically exposed regions. The varying features of the individual events were based on the spatial–temporal distribution of causal precipitation and also on the very different saturation of the catchments. It was chiefly the extraordinary time concentration of precipitation together with the highest catchment saturation that made the flood in 2002 the most extreme.The extremeness of meteorological fields during two episodes in July 1997 was compared with two episodes in August 2002 with the aid of the reanalysis data from ECMWF. The first episode in 1997 and the second episode in 2002 were the most similar and more extreme in terms of the large-scale fields of basic meteorological quantities. The similar features of these episodes are specifically an intensive influx of moisture into Central Europe and intensive upward motions in the precipitation area. The extremeness of upper- and low-level potential vorticity fields was evaluated to diagnose the behavior of the cyclone and frontal precipitation bands accompanying it. The suitable spatial configuration of positive upper- and low-level potential vorticity anomalies induced an additional amplification of upward motions in the precipitation area that apparently contributed to triggering the heavy precipitation over Central Europe. On the whole, quantities reached more extreme values during the second episode in 2002.     

Pre-Variscan evolution of the Western Tatra Mountains: new insights from U-Pb zircon dating

In situ LA-MC-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon geochronology combined with cathodoluminescence imaging were carried out to determine protolith and metamorphic ages of orthogneisses from the Western Tatra Mountains (Central Western Carpathians). The metamorphic complex is subdivided into two units (the Lower Unit and the Upper Unit). Orthogneisses of the Lower Unit are mostly banded, fine- to medium-grained rocks while in the Upper Unit varieties with augen structures predominate. Orthogneisses show a dynamically recrystallised mineral assemblage of Qz?+?Pl?+?Bt?±?Grt with accessory zircon and apatite. They are peraluminous (ASI?=?1.20?C1.27) and interpreted to belong to a high-K calc-alkaline suite of a VAG?Ctype tectonic setting. LA-MC-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon data from samples from both units, from crystals with oscillatory zoning and Th/U?>?0.1, yield similar concordia ages of ca. 534?Ma. This is interpreted to reflect the magmatic crystallization age of igneous precursors. These oldest meta-magmatics so far dated in the Western Tatra Mountains could be linked to the fragmentation of the northern margin of Gondwana. In zircons from a gneiss from the Upper Unit, cores with well-developed oscillatory zoning are surrounded by weakly luminescent, low contrast rims (Th/U?<?0.1). These yield a concordia age of ca. 387?Ma corresponding to a subsequent, Eo-Variscan, high-grade metamorphic event, connected with the formation of crustal-scale nappe structures and collision-related magmatism.     

Similarities of and differences between three mountain belts at the border of the pannonian basin due to the behaviour of the mohorovičić discontinuity

Summary The Dinarides, the Eastern Alps and the Western Carpathians being situated at the borders of the Pannonian basin, are of very similar origin. Therefore, the results obtained in the investigation of correlations between Earth gravity field parameters (absolute geoid undulations, gravity anomalies), the surface topography and the shape of the Mohorovičić discontinuity, were compared. It was found that these three regions have the same basic characteristics, but also their own specific features. While the similarities follow clearly from these investigations, the found differences might partly be a consequence of non-uniformity and unmatched quality of data sets used for the three regions. A short version of this paper, entitled "Kindredness of three mountain belts at the border of the Pannonian basin — deduced from the behavior of the Mohorovičić discontinuity" was presented at the 7th International Symposium "Geodesy and Physics of the Earth", Potsdam, October 5–10, 1992 and published in the Proceedings. Presently a visiting professor at the Graz University of Technology, Institute for Theoretical Geodesy, Department for Physical Geodesy, Austria. Presently at the Berlin University of Technology, Germany, as an Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Research Fellow.     

New period study of the eclipsing binary V865 Cygni

Several new precise times of minima, based on CCD observations, have been secured for the relatively seldom studied eclipsing binary V865 Cyg (P=0^d.365 days). Its O–C diagram was analysed and new light elements are given. We showed that there is probably no parabolic period increase in V865 Cyg. Instead, a single abrupt period increase can be distinguished in the O–C diagram.     

The April 8, 2005, Eclipse White-Light Corona

The hybrid solar eclipse of April 8, 2005, provided a good opportunity to observe the white-light solar corona, even though the eclipse lasted just 30 seconds and could be seen only from ships in the Pacific Ocean. During the eclipse, we detected a unique ‘cloud’ of particles in the white-light corona above the west limb ≈260°–270°. We compare this feature with EUV images from SOHO. The feature’s density and temperature seem comparable to a coronal condensation, and, like a coronal condensation, it is connected to the emergence of material from the solar surface without a flare. However, the morphology of the feature shows clear differences from a classical coronal condensation.